How much will I have to pay into CAJA?
Summary: How much does CAJA cost?
"Until you go to the caja office with your paperwork in hand, you won't know 'for sure'," stated one expat. However, the CCSS website has a Costa Rican social security fees calculator that will give you the approximate monthly premium that you will have to pay. If you are not working in Costa Rica, the amount of income that you listed on your residency application would be the amount used to calculate your social security fees. Foreigners over 55 do not have to pay into the pension system, which is the IVM field on the calculator, so that my be excluded.
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About the Author
Betsy Burlingame is the Founder and President of Expat Exchange and is one of the Founders of Digital Nomad Exchange. She launched Expat Exchange in 1997 as her Master's thesis project at NYU. Prior to Expat Exchange, Betsy worked at AT&T in International
and Mass Market Marketing. She graduated from Ohio Wesleyan University
with a BA in International Business and German.
Some of Betsy's articles include 12 Best Places to Live in Portugal, 7 Best Places to Live in Panama and 12 Things to Know Before Moving to the Dominican Republic. Betsy loves to travel and spend time with her family. Connect with Betsy on LinkedIn.
Additional Information:
- Costa Rica Guide
- Healthcare & Health Insurance in Costa Rica
- Members Talk about Healthcare & Health Insurance in Costa Rica
- Best Places to Live in Costa Rica
- Real Estate in Costa Rica
- Guide to Real Estate in Costa Rica
- Pros & Cons of Living in Costa Rica
- Cost of Living in Costa Rica
- Guide to Residency in Costa Rica
- 15 Best Beach Towns in Central America
- Living in Costa Rica Guide
- 17 Best Places to Live in Costa Rica (2026 Update)
- 2026 Guide to Living in Costa Rica
- Pros and Cons of Living in Costa Rica 2026
- 2026 Guide to Moving to Costa Rica
- Members Talk about the Cost of Living in Costa Rica


